Amirudin (centre) at the launch of the PLATS Biaya logo. With him are (from left) YHS chief executive officer Datuk Mearia Hamzah, Saipolyazan, Mohd Najwan and Ahmad Azri.
THE state government will continue looking into ways to empower traders registered under the PLATS (Platform Selangor) scheme, especially in terms of digitalisation, says Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
“The empowerment efforts may include ways to increase their sales and networking opportunities.
“This is in addition to the free registration and promotion activities offered on the PLATS website.
“The traders registered on PLATS are not only hawkers, but also micro-entrepreneurs with their own premises, and food truck operators,” Amirudin said.
He said the empowerment initiatives under PLATS would be implemented by Yayasan Hijrah Selangor (YHS), a state subsidiary tasked with offering microcredit schemes to Selangor entrepreneurs.
PLATS is a promotional platform and digital directory developed to mobilise Selangor’s traders.
It started in 2020 with PLATS ebazaar – the first digital Ramadan bazaar in Malaysia.
Amirudin, who is Sungai Tua assemblyman, was speaking to the media after launching the “PLATS Biaya” logo at the Selangor State Secretariat building in Shah Alam.
“PLATS Biaya” is a special financing scheme offered by YHS for traders who had undergone an entrepreneur training programme called U-PLATS.
The scheme offered a RM3,000 loan that is to be repaid in instalments within a year.
It also offered participants coverage under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) and Takaful contribution by YHS.
The pioneer batch of 120 participants undergoing the first “PLATS Biaya” programme are expected to complete it next month.
The scheme was a collaboration between YHS and state investment arm Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI).
MBI Selangor chief executive officer Saipolyazan M Yusop said U-PLATS training comprises three phases.
“The first phase is a digital programme in collaboration with Selangor Youth Community, which took place over a seven-month period.
“The second phase is a ‘Let’s Halal’ programme in collaboration with Halal International Selangor Toyyiba,” he said in his speech.
“The third phase, which is still being planned, is to provide guidance to traders to expand their businesses, whether nationwide or overseas.”
Also present were state youth, sports and entrepreneurship committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi and MBI Selangor Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Communications head Ahmad Azri Zainal Nor.
